Trace-fastener.



PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

0. R. AUSTIN. TRACE FASTENER.

. APPLICATION FILED 13110.1, 1904.

WITNESSES:

UNITE STATES.

Patented. April '18, 1905.

CHARLES R. AUSTIN, or LIND, WASHINGTON.

TRACE-FASTENER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 787,713, dated A r-i1 1Q, 1905.

Application filed December 1, 1904. Serial No. 255,112.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lind, in the county of Adams and State of VVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to improvements in trace-fasteners; and the object is to provide a fastener for traces of simple construction which will securely hold the trace in connection with the hame and insure the same against accidental disconnection.

My invention consists of the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view showing a portion of a harne with my improved fastener in position thereon; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the fastener with the locking-key in position; Fig. 3, an end view of the open end of the same, and Fig. 4 a detail perspective view of the locking-key.

Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, 1 represents a portion of a hame of ordinary construction provided with a staple 2. The plate or body portion of the fastener consists of a piece of flat metal 3, bent in a substantially U shaped form, the parallel wing portions of which are provided with substantially L-shaped slots 4, disposed in alinement. The plate 3 is inserted through staple 2 in such a manner that the curved portion 5 of said plate will bear against the vertical portion of the staple and form a pivotal connection between the two. The plate is preferably positioned so that one part of the L- shaped slots 4 will lie substantially horizontal, while the other portion of the same will extend upward from one end thereof. The locking-key (shown in Fig. 4) consists of a shank 6, having a substantially oblong portion or lug 7 extending laterally from one side thereof, said shank having at its respective ends heads 8 and9. The head 8 is of the ordinary round bolt-head type, while the head 9 is somewhat elongated and extends laterally from one side of shank 6 in a direction at I right angles to the lug 7. The head 9 is prefably flat upon the inside, and the sides of the lug are flattened to provide surfaces to bear against the parallel wings of the plate 3.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a hame with a trace fastened thereto by my improved fastener. To unhook the trace, the tension must be removed therefrom and the locking-key moved to the inner end of the slot 4. The point 12 of head 9 is then turned upwardly until said head is in alinement with the horizontal portion of slot 4. The lug 7 will then be in alinement with the vertical portion of the slot, and the key will be in a position to be readily withdrawn from engagement with the end of the trace-chain. To fasten the trace, the ring of the trace-chain 11 is placed between the parallel wing portions of the plate 3 and the key inserted, the point thereof turned downward and drawn forward to the position shown in Fig. 1-.

It will be readily seen that the trace cannot be. disconnected unless the locking-key is positively operated by the hand, as there is only one position of the key from which it can be withdrawn from plate 3, and said key is prevented from assuming this position by the action of the trace-chain on the lug 7 The tension of the trace-chain holds the key at the forward end of the slot 4, from which position it is impossible to withdraw the key. Should the tension for any reason he removed from the trace-chain, the same would have a tendency to sag, thus turning the lug 7 of the key downward, and should the key by any accident he forced inward to the inner end of the slot the same could not be removed, as it is essential to such removal that the lug 7 be turned upward in alinement with the vertical portion of the slot 4. Thus it is readily seen that by my construction a trace-fastener is provided from which it is practically impossible for the trace to become accidentally disconnected.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A fastener comprising a body portion having two parallel members formed with substantially L-shaped slots in alinement, and

I oo

a locking member adapted to be inserted in the slots, consisting of a shank headed on one end and provided at its opposite end and intermediately of its ends with laterally-extending projections disposed at the same angle to each other as the angle formed by the two branches of the said L-shaped slots.

2. A trace-fastener comprising a body portion formed with an opening to receive the trace and an L shaped slot communicating with said opening, and a locking member adapted to be inserted in said slot and movable therein having a shank formed with a shoulder on one end and a laterally-extending projection to extend into said opening in the body portion and a laterally-extending projection on the opposite end to extend upon the outer side of the body portion, said projections being at the same angle as the angle formed by the two branches of the L-shaped slot.

3. A trace-fastener comprising a body portion having two parallel members provided with substantially L-shaped slots in alinement, and a locking member adapted to be inserted in said slots and movable therein having a shank formed with a shoulder on one end, a laterally-extending projection to extend between the two members of the body portion and a laterally-extending projection on the opposite end to extend upon the outer side of the body portion, said projections being at the same angle as the two branches of the L-shaped slots.

4:. A trace-fastener comprising a body having the parallel members thereof formed with substantially L-shaped slots in alinement, and a locking member adapted to be inserted into said slot-s comprising ashank with a shoulder of larger size'than the slots on one end therof and a lateral projection on the opposite end adapted to extend upon the outer side of the body portion and to be turned transversely of the slots and means to automatically hold said projection transversely of the slots.

5. A trace-fastener comprising a body haw ing the parallel members thereof formed with substantially L-shaped slots in alinement, and a locking member adapted to be inserted into said slots comprising a shank with a shoulder of larger size than the slots on one end thereof and a lateral projection on the opposite end adapted to extend upon the outer side of the body portion and to be turned transversely of the slots and means acted on by the trace to hold said projection transversely of the slots. i

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES R. AUSTIN.

Witnesses VDUGAL .HULsoN, O. L. EDWARDS. 

